CCEA gives nod for road modification

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved certain modifications to the Phase ‘A’ of Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE) to provide road linkage to Sittwe port in Myanmar. The port is being developed as part of Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project in Myanmar.

The total additional gross budgetary support of Rs 1,050 crore for SARDP-NE has been approved, thus raising the total grant to Rs 5,873 crore.

According to an official statement, the modifications include setting up of an alternate highway route between Siliguri and Gangtok in lieu of approved proposal of upgrading an 80 km stretch from Sevoke to Ranipul to two-lane under Phase ‘A’ of SARDP-NE on BOT (annuity) basis and an alternate highway from Melli to Singtham in Phase ‘B’ of SARDP-NE.

Critical stretches of NH 31 A will be improved with additional grant of Rs 100 crore.